Movie review—Avatar

Seeing as I had nothing better to do on Friday night and thought I would give into the Hollywood hype machine, I went to my local multiplex and went to see Avatar. First off I would recommend seeing it in 3D because it was filmed with the intention of be viewed in 3D. 

This is a visual feast from the very beginning and you're thrown right into the storyline from the get go, getting filled in with details along the way. The basic plot is that humans are greedy and selfish and after destroying Earth they set to space to colonize and strip mine other planets. The natives of the planet they're after now aren't so friendly so they create avatars that allow them to look like the locals and try to assimilate. Of course there are kind hearted humans who take the moral high ground and try to help the natives.

There are some really great battle scenes  and the special effects are done masterfully. I was really skeptical about the blue, 10 feet tall avatars but they really look and feel natural. After awhile you begin to prefer watching the CGI over the real human footage. However it makes you wonder why they didn't just animate the whole damn movie and save a couple hundred million. If the point of creating a movie wouldn't that have been just as effective? Perhaps.

In summary, this was an enjoyable parable of a movie that dazzles you with special effects and an engrossing storyline but leaves you wondering if it was worth all the fuss.

Glasslock is a lock

Last week I received a set of 8 Glasslock containers from my friends at CSN Stores and they kick ass! It's a bit heavier toting leftovers for lunch to work but it's nice to know that I'm not being slowly killed by dioxins and nasty chemicals being leeched into my food by plastic. They're also a great gift idea for anyone who's sick of being buried under mismatched plastic food containers so consider them for the holidays!

Check out the other great housewares, dining room furniture and other products available at CSN.com too. Their selection is immense.

Some sketches

I thought I'd share a few sketches that I've been doing as begin my next comic book. Hands are really my weak point so I'm trying to work on them. The guy isn't a character, just a random doodle (dude-le?)

I'm thankful for...

This year I'm thankful for having a blog reader, so thank you whoever you are. Ha ha. I'm also thankful for Lady Gaga and the tickets I have to see her in January. Where would the world be without euphemisms like "disco stick"? This is one crizazy beyotch and I wouldn't have her any other way.

Lunch Drawing 11-23-09

Here's a drawing I did at lunch today. I used to be better about sketching at lunch and haven't as much lately.

Kinkade strikes again

"The Painter of Light" is at it again, making schlocky art and attaching his name to consumer crap. The holidays are just around the corner and you may ask yourself, "how do I find the time to decorate a tree in the style of Thomas Kinkade's paintings?!" Well now everyone does. You just pull up this tree and voila, instant Kinkade-ification! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or have sold your soul to the "Painter of Light", your bases are covered with this bastardization of all things good and holy.

WARNING: Don't electrocute yourself while plugging it in—Thomas Kinkade needs you alive to buy more stuff with his whimiscal wonderlands on them!

The Kiss of Death!

Who doesn't love chocolate and those little representatives of candy love—the Hershey's Kiss!? Well you may not love them if you receive this lame ass Hershey's Kiss music box as a gift. Forget it if you've got a son, this one comes inscribed with "Kisses for My Daughter" and it's for the ladies. When you open this candy-less Trojan Horse Kiss it plays "Your Are So Beautiful". I guess it's to tell your daughter how much she reminds you of a big bottomed blob of chocolate?

Personally I'd rather have chocolate but maybe that's just me.

Coming soon...

Be on the lookout for some more musings on ridiculous ads and artwork that I hope to post. In addition I'm going to post a review of some great looking reusable glass food containers that I ordered from CSNStores.com. Not only do they have amazing living room and dining room furniture but they have housewears too. I love the Noguchi coffee table on CSNstores.com!

I'm very afraid of dioxines leaking into my food so I hope these glass containers fix thee problem.

33 Problems and a wish ain't one

Who hasn't made a wish and hoped it would come true? Well with Maria Duval's foolproof plan your wish can come true! All you do is check off the wishes you want to come true, mail it to Maria, mail back the large secret white envelope and voila—wish granted. I mean Maria has been "consulted by many international celebrities"and is a "holder of the highest honorary awards and degrees" so of course you're gonna see results. I can guarantee that if your wish is to make your money vanish it's bound to work.

If anyone tries it let me know if your wish comes true.

"Sin" is a sin?

I thought I'd share this case of censorship gone wrong. I saw this video posted on Perez Hilton's website (http://www.perezhilton.com) and in case you haven't heard it, this song is about a threesome. For whatever reason the word sin is overdubbed from the phrase "living in sin". Why is the word sin deemed the offensive part of this song? Just another bizarre case of mindless censorship.

Where it all began

I thought I would post this picture of the Walkman that inspired my comic. It's sort of a behind the scenes look at the inner workings of my brain.

The Adventures of Walkman

I created this comic after seeing an old Walkman that my Dad picked up at a tag sale and it resemebled a face. The story came after. It's also featured as a guest strip on The Daily Cross Hatch blog . http://thedailycrosshatch.com/

Enjoy!

Obama to have giant thighs?

I hope this was a joke that the character is named Deathpanel. I know that President Obama has been featured in Rob Liefeld's Youngblood lately but please tell me that a character named Deathpanel is a joke. I also hope that President Obama is never drawn with giant thighs, shoulder pads and utility belts all over the place.

http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2009/09/03/next-weeks-is-funny-with-timmy-williams-8309/#more-4537

Sunday ads for the ladies

More fun with Sunday circulars! These are two for the ladies. First we have a snazzy snap up jacket—perfect for any occasion! As long as that occasion is playing bridge with the gals or Wednesday night bingo. It would also be good for geriatric strippers who want to rip their clothes off in a hurry but stay warm beforehand.

Snap-It-Up bitch!


The next ad is for a real gem. What could be worse than cancer? Why none other than art by "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade that's what! Cancer is no laughing matter, which is why Mr. Kinkade teamed up with the good folks at The Hamilton Collection to create a statue for that will give "a portion of the proceeds" to help find a cure for breast cancer. Your generosity knows no bounds "Painter of Light"! This "graceful lady" who "reminds us that the hope for a cure is as timeless as a woman's elegance" was simply inspired by the "romantic paintings" of Señor Kinkade. That means he probably had nothing to do with this. Awesome!





That's all the sarcasm I can muster for this week. Enjoy these ads and I hope to post some original artwork soon.

Cat Clock

This is perfect for the man who has pussy on his brain all day long! Not only does this charming conversation piece feature pictures of kitties at each hour, it also has a moving tail. What better way to spend a day than chasing tail?

God Bless The Bradford Exchange.

Artist trading cards

I made these awhile back. They were of random people I saw and created on Strathmore Artist Trading Cards Bristol Board with pencil, pen and ink. I like the concept of having artists create trading cards to create and share. I guess I'll have to make enough to trade.

Crazy spams

I love these two bizarrely poetic and schizophrenic spams that I got today so much that I had to share them. The first was from my dear, dear, friend Agnes Walker. In her subject line she plainly reminds me, "I talk like a valley girl". Tell it like it is sister. Now imagine her reading this message in her Valley Girl voice;

It makes no difference who you are . The things we mean to say.
How are you? my new friend! Pretty woman here!

Notice the thoughtful, almost poetic way in which Agnes writes. She may be spam but she has soul and apparently looks like Julia Roberts.

I saw your profile on some website and decided to drop you
few lines. I am moving to your area in few days and looking for a man
partner who could show me around and who knows what might come out of this.
I am moving from the other part of the world.

Details aren't necessary Agnes, when you say "other part of the world" I know what you mean. I know it in my heart place.

Will send you my pic once you reply. Give me one more night, give me just one more night. I will always be with you.

What I love so much about Agnes' correspondence is how quickly her mood shifts and how sporadic her writing is. It's very conversational but also crazy! Two things I look for in my imaginary friends. We've only just met and never seen each other but boy is she ready to commit! She insists I give her one more night yet we've never even met!

Another fake spam friend of mine named Cindy Sanchez also wrote to me today and tells it like it is right in the subject line, "safe but crazy". Ain't no shame Cindy, ain't no shame. She's another sexy schizo who jumps right into her message, with pure white stars Exotic sweetness a magical time. But if i said to you please don't do it. Hullo! my new friend! Where is my man? I am woman looking for one."

Who has time for proper greetings Cindy—who has time?! She gets right to the message and then reminds me of our close bond. Am I her man? Have we met? Is she really crazy? Who cares! All that matters is she is safe with an exotic sweetness to her. Safe but crazy.

Illustration Friday – Subtract

This was a piece that I did for Illustration Friday but never submitted because I didn't think it was quite finished. The one word that week was "subtract" and this is what I came up with.

Zombie book illustrations

Here are illustrations that I did for a book that sadly aren't going to be used. The publisher is going with another illustrator due to marketing reasons. Still they make a good portfolio piece.

They are famous authors and the book is a Cliff Notes version of famous stories with zombies, werewolves and vampires interjected. Sounds cool so I'm bummed that they're not using my work. Let me know what you think and enjoy!

Mary Shelley
Joseph Conrad
Emily Bronte
Charlotte Bronte
Charles Dickens
William Shakespeare — Romeo & Juliet
Nathaniel Hawthorne

Mark Twain

William Shakespeare — Hamlet

Must have headwear for AARP members

This hat is a must have for any 55 year old or over. Not only does it proudly proclaim to the world, "I am a senior and proud", it tells them that you're one cheap old bastard. Note to trophy wife hunting seniors, don't wear this hat when looking for your younger, gold-digging wife. Not a good conversation starter.

Note to Subway

Your five dollar footlong commercials do not make me want to go to Subway. They make me want to jump in front of a subway.

Contemporary art trip

I got the opportunity to go view a private art collection with work today and it was incredible. Not only did I get out of work for the day but I got to see works of art that few people can see. I decided to share the work of a few of the artists I saw today here. These aren't necessarily the works that I saw but just the artists. Enjoy!

Elizabeth Peyton

Jean Michel Basquiat

Cindy Sherman
Jeff Koons

Movie review—The Hangover

This movie looked hilarious in the previews, which usually means that the finished product won't be, but this movie delivered the goods. This movie is really funny, well acted and fun. I recommend it. What more can I say? That's my review.

More Fail blog stuff

This stuff is too good not to post. Check out www.failblog.com for more. Enjoy!



see more Fail Blog


see more Fail Blog


see more Fail Blog
Looks like they have a lot of dreams for their little Holly.


see more Fail Blog

Fun at the TA Truck Stop

Coming home from a stag party last night I stopped at a Truck Stop near 84 in Southington to buy gum and a drink. I was really impressed with the odd assortment of things you can buy. Maybe it was because I was buzzed? (I didn't drive). Look at the amazing things you can buy here. It was like a treasure trove of trashy trinkets.

In today's busy world who has time for shopping at malls?! While I'm at the truck stop I'll pick up shorts, a nice leather fringe vest and a new do-rag to top off my look. The flaming skull cologne is just the perfect scent to attract the ladies.


These heater meals seemed to be the big new thing at the truck stop. Who knows what kind of magic makes these instantly hot. Nanotechnology? Eat it off a commemorative Connecticut plate and you've got yourself dinner! Not sure what the deck of cards has to do with Connecticut. Maybe the casinos?



There was also a game room where you can play the Connecticut themed Lighthouse game or the New Jersey themed Sopranos pinball.

The best labels money can buy.

I have to give credit to my co-worker Aja for showing this to me. This is one of my prized possessions at work and it's just an empty box. These labels are worth buying just for the packaging, which is rare for office supplies. I want to meet the stoner Fight Club fan who works at Avery.

Secret gaudy cross

I regularly post the weird ads from the weekly Sunday circulars and here is this week's gem. Not only can you wear this cross with you everywhere, but you'll never be caught without The Lord's Prayer! It's like a secret DaVinci Code message but without all the messy conspiracy. I can't tell whether it projects The Lord's Prayer onto walls or if you're just supposed to squint and read it. That girl must have cybernetic eyes or some shit.

Great graffiti

I walk by this graffitied door on my walks at lunch and finally took a picture of it. It rocks doesn't it? I hope that it's never painted over.



Bonus points if you can tell me where this is in New Haven.

Awesome SPAM

Actual message from spam email I got today;

Japanese robot with soft hands chats and serves meal.

Where is this robot and where can I get mine?!

Movie review — X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Last night I saw X-Men Origins: Wolverine and while I enjoyed it, I don't think I can recommend it to everyone. This movie takes place prior to the other three X-Men movies and sets out to tell the story of how Wolverine came to be. It starts really strong laying out the foundation of Wolverine's relationship with Sabertooth and erodes as it becomes more of a standard fare blockbuster action movie.

I would give this movie a B-/C+. I really liked it but partially because I was just happy to see some of my favorite X-Men characters on screen. There were some good moments and story elements that eventually became overshadowed by the tidy ending that the filmmakers wanted to create. Some of the special effects seemed a little sloppy and at times the direction was uneven. Go see it if you're looking for a fun action-packed blockbuster movie or are a big X-Men fan. Otherwise you might be let down.